Chris Chocola: From Indiana congressman to national GOP power broker

9:45 PM,
Mar. 14, 2013

Chris Chocola

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WASHINGTON Former U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola has turned into a major player in the internal fight for control of the national Republican Party, wielding more influence than he did when representing Indiana in Congress, if making more enemies.

Chocola heads the Club for Growth, the anti-tax, small government group, that inspires fear in some corners of the GOP by its willingness to challenge incumbents viewed by some as not conservative enough.

Last year, the club spent nearly $18 million on ads to influence U.S. House and Senate races and funneled more than $7 million directly to candidates it ...